Tell us a little about yourselves!
I (Kathryn) am a florist and producer originally from Wisconsin. Aaron is a film editor, cinematographer, and musician from New Jersey. We’ve both lived in New York for over 10 years and come from creative families. Our first date was in 2017 after Aaron slid into my DMs. We got engaged in December 2023 during a road trip to Richmond, VA—Aaron proposed at 7 a.m., which felt very on-brand for us!
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, felt like the natural choice. It’s our neighborhood, and getting ready in our own apartment was incredibly special. New York also made it easy for guests from across the U.S. and Europe to join us while being an exciting destination for everyone.
We wanted a timeless, sacred ceremony, which is why we chose a church. Both of our families are Catholic, and it felt meaningful to honor that tradition. For inspiration, I envisioned the classic elegance of “The Godfather” wedding and the iconic photo of Elvis and Priscilla with rice cascading down.
The Neptune Room (our reception site) was the second place we toured and as soon as I saw the pistachio green walls I was sold. The intimate indoor/outdoor vibe perfectly suited our dream of a cozy, lively gathering where friends and family could connect and celebrate.
How many guests did you have?
Tell us about your outfits.
I’ve never been someone who’s been planning my wedding since childhood. I thought we’d have a simple civil ceremony and I’d wear something I already owned. Things changed very quickly after getting engaged!
The first thing I purchased (about 2 weeks after we got engaged) were my Bottega Veneta sling backs. I had never seen a wedding dress I actually liked until Danielle Frankel arrived. While the idea of our wedding was still just an idea, I was idly looking at the Danielle Frankel site and saw the Bruna dress and fell for it instantly. She’s perfect! I visited the atelier in March 2024 with my best friend Saren and the Bruna dress was the first one I tried on. Thankfully it looked as good in person as it did online. I ordered it the next day and it arrived in August. I worked with Cristina at Alts in Williamsburg for tailoring. The whole process was very laidback - I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aaron was easy! We both liked the idea of a brown suit. We looked at some vintage suits on Depop before he decided to go with Suit Supply in SoHo. It was a seamless experience. He wore his trusty Bass Weejuns that I got him for Christmas a few years ago and an ivory-colored tie also from Suit Supply.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
For Aaron and me, the most exciting part was having all our favorite people in one place. This was likely a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so we put a lot of care into creating the perfect seating chart, mixing guests to spark great conversations. It worked beautifully!
Both of us are quite organized and like to plan, so we decided to plan the whole event ourselves. We also wanted everything (from finding a venue to choosing Aaron’s socks) to be effortless and stress-free. It was a pretty big undertaking that required a lot of patience and communication, but for the most part, we were able to achieve that!
Aaron - Good music and good food.
Aaron made separate playlists for our rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour, reception and dance portion. Our guests loved the music. At one point during dinner all of our guests started a sing-a-long to “Band On The Run” by Wings.
Kathryn - Good flowers and an open bar.
The most important element for me was having my friend Robin of Fleurotica do the flowers. Going along with the stress-free theme, I told her to do whatever she wanted for the flower arrangements at the reception. (As a florist myself, I knew I could trust her and didn’t want our wedding to feel like ‘work’!) Robin saw the pistachio-colored walls in the Neptune Room and based her arrangements off of Italian spumoni! (‘The Godfather’ theme came full circle.)
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
It was extremely important for me to incorporate flowers by Fleurotica, as well as my painted blue orchid bridal bouquet. I knew they would be the showstopper! My good friend, first florist “boss” and mentor, Robin Hilleary (Fleurotica), flew in from Marseille to work her magic on all of our floral arrangements and my bouquet. She just gets it. Robin is a true artist and made the day truly special.
The only reception “tradition” we followed was the first dance. We used the song “Forever” by The Little Dippers. I am a big Sofia Coppola fan (her work inspired a lot of the look and feel of our wedding) and the song was featured in ‘Priscilla’. … After “Forever,” Aaron’s playlist went right into Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much” to cue the dancing.
Aaron and I also wanted both of our fathers to speak at the reception. Nothing gets the tears flowing like a proud dad!
Any tips for couples getting married?
Once you book the venue, the hard part is over. Lean on your friends and family for help with anything throughout the process - they want to be involved!
The day goes by so fast. Make sure to take moments to stop and look at all the love surrounding you! Soak it in! And please, please eat. (I didn’t!)
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Nicole Plett - our photographer is an angel. I guarantee there is no wedding photographer more calming or more intuitive than Nicole. She just gets it! She sees the vision before you even have to tell her. Multiple guests commented on how amazing she is and her work speaks for itself. We are so grateful for her and cannot recommend Nicole enough.
Robin Rose Hilleary (Fleurotica) - Robin is a master of her craft. Similar to Nicole, she is slightly psychic. Robin’s artistry is unmatched and she’s one of the kindest people I know. Walking around Dimes Square with Robin is the closest I’ve ever felt to being a celebrity. She is beloved by all who are lucky enough to know her.
Saren Diaz - Saren is pure magic, my best friend, and a phenomenal esthetician. She makes my skin look fabulous just by being around her. She is a facialist at Strauhs Studios in Tribeca. If you’re lucky enough to visit her, you’ll be glowing both inside and out.
Katie Meehan (KEPT Studio) - I have the best hair dresser in the world and her studio is 4 blocks from my home. Caring, talented, beautiful and kind, no one knows hair better than Katie. She couldn’t give a bad haircut if she tried!
Fr. Mike Vricella at St. Cecilia gave the homily of the year at our wedding ceremony.
Photographer: Nicole Plett @nicole__plett | Planning & Styling: by the couple | Flora: Fleurotica
@fleurotica | Ceremony Location: St. Cecilia R.C. Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY | Reception Location: The Neptune Room @ Radio Star @glasserienycevents | Celebrant: Fr. Michele Vricella |
Skin: Saren Diaz @saren.diaz | Makeup: Cali Strauhs @calistrauhs | Hair: Katie Meehan, KEPT Studio (Cut & Blowout) @hairbykmeehan | Catering + Beverages: Glasserie @glasserienycevents | Cake: Key Food
@keyfood | Stationery: Joan An Beaudoin @joananbeaudoin | Entertainment: DJ Set Playlist by the Groom & Ceremony Cantor: Lesley Goff (Kathryn’s Cousin) | Dresses: Danielle Frankel @daniellefrankelstudio | Suit: Suit Supply @suitsupply | Veil: Etsy @etsy | Dress Tailoring: Alts @alts | Kathryn's Engagement & Wedding Ring: Kinn Studio @kinnstudio | Aaron's Wedding Ring: Frank Darling @frankdarling | Shoes: Bottega Veneta (Kathryn) @newbottega & G.H. Bass (Aaron) @ghbass